Retail beer sales rise in 2011 to reach $98 billion

The Beer Institute reports that retail beer sales rose more than 2% in 2011 to reach a sum of more than $98 billion (that’s nine zeros). Beer sales, which contribute to approximately 1.8 million American jobs throughout over 500,000 beer distributing establishments, exceeded wine and liquor sales in both revenue and volume, with high-end beer leading the surge. Craft and import beers sold for off-premise consumption claimed a 3% total increase, while the overall off-premise consumption category only rose 1%. Total sales for alcohol consumed on-site at a bar or restaurant rose by 3% to exceed $55 billion in revenue. In other words, Americans spend a lot of money on beer.